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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

WWYD - teen running their own tuck shop in school

504 replies

PinkPansies · 08/02/2022 16:06

We've realised recently that ds1 aged 14 has become quite flush with cash (more so than his pocket money would allow anyway!).

On questioning we've discovered that he's quite the entrepreneur and has set up his own tuck shop in school on breaks and lunches. In short, he's been stopping at the local Coop on the way to school and buying sweets and chocolates then selling them to the kids in his year for double the price. Who are more than willing to pay.

From making the odd quid here and there his 'business' has expanded rapidly in the last 3 weeks and he's got quite a following in school - and he's currently making about ten quid A DAY in profit. I can't quite believe the amounts.

He's taking specific requests from kids that get the bus to school so don't have the opportunity to visit a shop and has a price/order list to show his customers and a book with a record of his sales and profits each day 🙈

He's taking it very seriously and is incredibly organised. He's explained to his parents that his profit is limited only by how much stuff he can physically fit in his bag - so he's currently looking at smaller, higher value sweets and sounding our his customers for interest levels.

Parent A and Parent B have different opinions.

Parent A is thrilled, has congratulated their son for his driven, entrepreneurial spirit and told him to crack on...but that he needs to be aware the school will probably give him a detention if he's caught. It's a risk ds is happy to take.

Parent B is amused and a bit impressed but thinks he should stop as obviously the school would frown on this. Haven't seen any specific school rules about this but obviously the school would probably want it stopped!

WWYD?

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 08/02/2022 18:32

Haven't seen any specific school rules about this but obviously the school would probably want it stopped!

if the school haven't the foresight to have a rule about this, then he isn't breaking school rules - though he needs a plan to combat this incase one is implemented and also a good argument to protect himself from a punishment for a rule that isn't there

sadpapercourtesan · 08/02/2022 18:32

I don't think I'd be bursting with pride if one of mine thought this was "entrepreneurial". Screwing his mates out of a few quid for crappy chocolate bars. He'd be better off concentrating on his GCSEs.

Kennykenkencat · 08/02/2022 18:33

I think it is genius.

I could have seen Dd doing this but her schools tuck shop had everything a sweet shop had in it.

caranations · 08/02/2022 18:33

@MaggieMooh

If he’s serious about it he’ll have to register and pay tax etc. You can’t just run a business illegally.
It is absolutely legal to run a small business and not register.

Your income just has to be lower than the limit, which is currently £1,000. He's not going to hit that between now and the end of the current tax year on the 5th April, is he?

Blossomtoes · 08/02/2022 18:34

@sadpapercourtesan

I don't think I'd be bursting with pride if one of mine thought this was "entrepreneurial". Screwing his mates out of a few quid for crappy chocolate bars. He'd be better off concentrating on his GCSEs.
I bet he wouldn’t. That kid’s going to make money throughout his life, regardless of his GCSE results.
MargaretThursday · 08/02/2022 18:35

I did this with my friends at school for about a month. We stopped it after that as it was strictly banned and we decided we were likely to get caught.
We didn't make anything like as much as your ds did, but it was fun.

Mirw · 08/02/2022 18:35

Pay the tax, donate 10% to the school. Great. Not willing to do this, detention and possible kicking out of school. He should be selling fruit, not crap.

Marmite27 · 08/02/2022 18:35

@MintyGreenDream

Our best man did a roaring trade in vodka shots for 50p each at our wedding reception Blush The bar staff knew apparently as they were asking people if they wanted 3/4 of a coke not a full one.We found out a few days after the wedding
My dad brought home brew to mine and got my boss legless. He sold her a bottle to take home.

I realise now where my brother gets it from Grin

Popfan · 08/02/2022 18:35

I've just found out my own 14 year old DS has been doing this, although on a bit of a smaller scale. I did admire him but have told him to stop now as I know he would get into trouble for it!

Chattycatty · 08/02/2022 18:35

My ds learned paid for driving lessons and both tests with his profits.

Lampshading · 08/02/2022 18:35

That kid’s going to make money throughout his life, regardless of his GCSE results.

Yeah true, making a profit off of those who don't have the same resources as him- ie can't get to the shop before school. The glorious cornerstone of capitalism.

Chichimcgee · 08/02/2022 18:36

I don't think I'd be bursting with pride if one of mine thought this was "entrepreneurial". Screwing his mates out of a few quid for crappy chocolate bars. He'd be better off concentrating on his GCSEs.

My brother did this, he makes thousands of pounds a day, works all over the world and can demand £5k a day. He just has that business mindset and determination.

I have 11 A GCSEs, went to college and uni. I’ve never made much above minimum wage.

GCSEs aren’t the be all and end all, if a child finds their passion early on (which in this case is business) then that needs support to flourish

sadpapercourtesan · 08/02/2022 18:37

@Blossomtoes possibly, but some of us think there are more important things in life than the mindless pursuit of profit.

As I said, I wouldn't be proud of one of mine if he'd reached his teenage years with that mindset. However much cash he'd managed to grub out of his peers.

Josephsrose · 08/02/2022 18:37

Just go for it, just make sure kid know that he has to take the discipline when schools finds out and disciplines him. Selling outside the school gates will still get him into trouble because he is wearing uniform.

betwixtlives · 08/02/2022 18:38

@sadpapercourtesan

I don't think I'd be bursting with pride if one of mine thought this was "entrepreneurial". Screwing his mates out of a few quid for crappy chocolate bars. He'd be better off concentrating on his GCSEs.
How’s he screwing anyone out of anything? No one is forced to buy from him
Gilmorehill · 08/02/2022 18:38

I don’t see the problem at all.

Blossomtoes · 08/02/2022 18:39

some of us think there are more important things in life than the mindless pursuit of profit.

Then why worry about GCSE results? Just sit back and wait for the universe to provide? We’d be stuffed as a society if everyone was as high minded as you pretend to be.

OmgIThinkILikeYou · 08/02/2022 18:40

@Lampshading

That kid’s going to make money throughout his life, regardless of his GCSE results.

Yeah true, making a profit off of those who don't have the same resources as him- ie can't get to the shop before school. The glorious cornerstone of capitalism.

How else do you make money then? Everyone you spend money you are paying for a service, something that someone has that you don't have. And most people are doing so for a profit.
rollerblind · 08/02/2022 18:40

Genius!

Bedsheets4knickers · 08/02/2022 18:42

Parent A

RosieLemonadeAndSugar · 08/02/2022 18:44

That kids gona go far in life! Let him crack on!

Kelly7889 · 08/02/2022 18:44

There are always a few people (boys) in every school year group who do this and have done since schools existed. They are the ones who end up having their own businesses or doing great in sales. He isn't selling dope or cigarettes so I would leave him to it.

Knackeredmommy · 08/02/2022 18:47

Good on him! My son did this too. The teachers weren't bothered and it he learnt about profit, saving, supply and demand. I wish schools did some kind of enterprise skills curriculum.

GreekGod · 08/02/2022 18:48

I'm with Parent A - well done to him... a Steven Bartlett in the making

Thisisit2022 · 08/02/2022 18:48

At the school I worked at, totally against the rules. At the school I attended...no idea but I made a shitload of money. I even sold individual pick and mix sweets as there was nothing at all to buy at school!

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